One day after engaging in a high-scoring slugfest, the Freedom pitching staff took center stage in a 4-1 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats at the U.S. Steel Yard on Monday.
Zach Wendorf started for Florence, striking out three batters and allowing just one hit through two innings. Alex Dandridge earned the victory in relief, tossing two and a third innings and leading the Freedom with four strikeouts.
After the two teams traded zeroes for the first four innings of play, the Freedom sent all nine players to the plate in the top of the fifth against RailCats reliever Carlos Diaz. Andre Mercurio and Garrett Vail drew bases-loaded walks to force home one run each, while Andrew Godbold scored from third on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.
Gary answered in the bottom half, loading the bases against Dandridge with one out. But Pete Levitt entered and after allowing a sacrifice fly to Jackson Glines, retired the side on a groundout. The RailCats would strand a total of 14 baserunners in the game.
The final Florence run came in the top of the ninth. With Mike Morris on second base, Ryan Rinsky hit a groundball past third baseman Jack Parenty. But as shortstop Andy DeJesus threw late to first base, Morris rounded third and briefly became caught in a rundown. First baseman Alex Crosby made an errant throw home, however, allowing Morris to score on the play.
Patrick McGrath, Eli Garcia, Evan Bickett and Matt Pobereyko each tossed one scoreless frame from the sixth inning onward to seal the victory. The two teams elected to play one extra inning to end the evening, providing additional playing time for a number of players before concluding the final spring training game of the year.
The Freedom will open their regular season on Friday, May 12 against the Gateway Grizzlies at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Central Time.
The Freedom home opener of the regular season is on Wednesday, May 17. Group tickets and season ticket plans are currently on sale for the 2017 campaign. Fans can guarantee seating for premium promotional dates by calling the Freedom at 859-594-4487.
Florence Freedom